Self-closing cap for collapsible tubes



1937. G. L. LATEUR SELF CLOSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed March 18, 1935 mm 2 L. W T 5 Q Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-CLOSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES My inventionrelates to improvements in selfclosing caps for collapsible tubes, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed;

An object of my invention is to provide an intprovement over my co-pending application on a self-closing cap for collapsible tubes, Serial No. 758,640, filed December 21, 1934. In the co-pending case I show a self-closing cap in which the spring for closing the cap is integral therewith and extends from the rear of the cap. In the present form of the invention I show the cap with an integral spring extending from the front edge of the cap. This causes the spring to apply its force at the most vital point for closing the cap.

The spring extends across the top of the cap and has its end either received in the notch or shoulder in the neck of the tube, or the end of the spring can rest against the top of the tube at the place where the neck joins the tube.

, A further object of my invention is to provide I a neck for the tube in which the side walls are cut away at their upper edges to form recesses. This permits the cap to swing intoopen position more readily as will be hereinafter more clearly de- 0' scribed. I have found that the opening ofthe cap depends upon the strength or resiliency of the legs about whiclTthe cap pivots. These legs can be bent so as to provide the desired resiliency, and the legs can be made thinner or thicker, and

can also be changed as to length so as to accommodate the cap to tubes containing material of different consistencies.

The cap is formed from a single blank, and the blank is shaped so as to be struck out from a strip of material with a minimum amount of waste.

It is possible to change the pivot point of the cap, and I have shown a modified form in the drawing illustrating one of these examples.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in

which I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tube itself showing the construction of the mouth and neck; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the cap in place; 0 Figure 3 is a vertical section through the tube and cap showing the cap closed;

Figure 4 is a'similar view to Figure 3 showing 7 the can ope Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cap illus- 5 tratinl the position of the spring before it is bent;

Figure 6 shows two blanks from which the caps are formed, and illustrates how these blanks are struck out from a single sheet of material;

Figure 7 is a section substantially along the line 'l! of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing 5 the legs aligned with the flanges of the cap;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the tube showing a modified form of the cap;

Figure 10 is a horizontal section through the neck of the tube shown in Figure 9; 10

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the tube neck shown in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a transverse section of the cap shown in Figure 9; and

Figure 13 is a slightlymodified form of neck .de- 15 signed for receiving the cap shown in Figure 9.

In carrying out my invention I provide a collapsible tube indicated generally'at l, and this tube is designed to hold material such as tooth paste and the like. The tube has a neck 20 2 rectangular in cross section, and the sides 3 and 4 of the neck have their upper edges inclined for forming a recess 5. Figure 3 shows the front wall 6 of the neck provided with a groove 1, and

shows the rear wall 8 provided with a shoulder 23 or notch 9.

In Figure 2 I show a cap indicated generally at l0 and this cap has a top portion H with a spring l2 extending from the front edge thereof. The spring is bent back upon itself as shown in 30 Figure 3, and the end of the spring is received in the notch or shoulder 9.

Figure 5 shows the cap as being provided with side flanges I3. These flanges contact with the sides 2 and 4 of the neck and prevent the tooth 3i paste or other material from flowing out at the sides of the mouth piece. The side flanges l3 are extended into leg portions I4, and these leg portions have projections or arms l5 bent toward each other. in the notch or groove 1.

I I have found that the force required to open the cap. can be varied to accommodate the cap for material of different consistencies, and to also accommodate the cap to exude a ribbon of ma- 45 terial of the desired thickness. For example. the arms I5 are flexed slightly when the cap opens due to the factthat the cap moves rearwardly a slight distance when swinging into open position. The force needed to flex the arms I5 can be changed by merely changing the thickness of the arms, the length of the arms, orthe amount of bend in the, arms. In Figure 7, for example, the arms l5 are shown bent to form an acute angle with the legs 04. If these arms are u The arms l5 are pivotally received 40 bent more or less, the force required to open the cap will also be varied.

In Figure 8 the legs [4 are shown in alignment with the flanges l3, while in Figure '7' the legs are shown spaced outwardly .a slight distance. In this simple way the friction exerted on the cap during the opening movement can be increased because in the form shown in Figure 8 the legs, as well as the flanges contact with the v sides 2 and 4 of the neck.

I have designed the recesses 5 to aid in the more ready opening of the cap when the tube is collapsed. I have found that if the top edges of the'sides arallel the under surface of the cap as shown in my copending case, a greater amount of force is needed to open the cap inasmuch as the thin layer of paste will be received between the cap and the top edge of the sides, and this paste has a tendency to adhere to both surfaces, and to act as an adhesive in tending to hold the cap in closed position. By forming the sides with recesses 5 a greater amount of material is disposed between the under surface of the cap top H, and the upper edges of the sides 2 and 4. This greater amount of material will offer less adhesive resistance to the cap in its initial rearward opening movement. The result is that the cap will be opened more readily, and since this is true the exit opening formed by the cap and the mouth will be larger and will deliver a thicker ribbon of material.

The flanges 13 are designed to keep the sides of the neck closed when the cap is in its opened position, and thus the tooth paste must be forced through the end of the cap. The rear of the cap has a sliding contact with the rear top edge I6 of the neck, and this contact has a sufficient force to prevent the tooth paste from flowing from the rear of the mouth piece. By extending the spring from the front of the cap, I not only apply the force at the desired place for closing the cap when the pressure on the tube isreleased, but

In Figure 6 I show the cap ID in the form of a blank, and illustrate how the cap can be struck out from a strip of material indicated at H. The

"dotted lines l8 show where the sides of the cap are bent to form the flanges and the dotted lines [9 show'where the legs are bent to form the arms. g

In Figures 9 to'12 inclusive I show a slightly modified form of the cap. Figure 12 shows the cap as having legs 20 that are bent so that the ends of the legs will be received in a notch 2| formed in a projection 22 extending/from both respects the cap is identical to that already deas to engage at the juncture 23 made by the neck The neck need not be scribed, except thatthe spring I2 isextended so and the top'of the tube. provided with a shoulder or a notch 9 in this form of the device.

having notches 24 in its sides for receiving the In Figure 13 I show the neck of the tube as ends, of the legs 20. This form differs from the form shown in Figure 11 to the extent that the notches in the latter form are made in the projections 22. The operations of the modified forms of the device are identical to that of the first form, and therefore need no further description.

The friction inppening the cap is reduced over the form shown in the co-pending case because the cap only slides over the rearledge 16 instead of over the entire upper edge of the opening.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, a neck having an open end, a cap closing the end and having arms pivotally connecting the cap to the front of the neck, and a spring integral with the cap at its front edge, said spring extending across having flanges extending along the side walls for,

closing the recesses, and a spring closing the cap, said flanges covering the recesses when the cap is opened.

3. In combination, a neck having an opening and sides with recesses in their upper edges extending substantially throughout the lengths of the side walls, a cap pivoted to the neck and normally covering the opening, said cap when opened sliding rearwardly a slight distance over the rear edge of the opening and having its front edge swing into open position, said cap having flanges covering the recesses at all times, and a spring for swinging the cap into closed position.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a cap formed from a single blank and having a top portion, side flanges with legs having inwardly bent ends, and an integral spring extending from the front edge and over the top of the cap.

5. An outletv mouth rectangular in cross section and having an inclined open end, the side walls having wedge-shaped recesses providing an upstanding rear edge, a cap having flanges covering the recesses in all positions of the cap, legs integral with the cap and pivotally connected to the mouth, the top of the rear wall constituting a fulcrum line about which the cap swings.

6. An outlet mouth rectangular in cross section and having an inclined open end, the side walls having wedge-shaped recesses providing an upstanding rear edge, a cap having flanges covering the recessesin all positions of the cap, legs integral with the cap and pivotally connected to the mouth, the top of the rear wall constituting a fulcrum line about which the cap swings, and spring means urging the cap into closed position.

'7. An'outlet mouth rectangular in cross section and having an inclined open end, the sidewalls having wedge-shaped recesses providing an upstanding rear edge, a cap having flanges covering the recesses in all positions of the cap, legs 

